18 June 2012

Monday's mp3: Kickstart Akoya Afrobeat!

SoundRoots doesn't do a very good job hiding our love of Afrobeat. But then, why should we? More Afrobeat groups are popping up around the landscape, and established groups are showing staying and innovating power.

Which brings us to the subject of today's post, Akoya Afrobeat. I first ran across this NYC-based group with their 2004 CD, Introducing the Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble. The group currently includes 15 musicians from around the world (Nigeria, Benin, Botswana,
Japan, South Africa, and the USA), showing something of the universal appeal of the music and its vibe of resistance to (abusive) power. And its danceability, always its danceability!

Akoya followed up in 2008 with the sizzling P.D.P (President Dey Pass) -- and now another four years have passed, they're ready to record again, and they're looking for your help.

The band has a kickstarter project, which you can learn about here:

I'll leave you with a full track of Akoya's wonderfulness, and hope it entices you to support the band's project -- and to support (or form!) your own local Afrobeat group.

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About SoundRoots

SoundRoots provides information about and commentary on ethnic arts and world cultures, particularly what's known around here as "world music." Frequent mp3 postings too, so you can listen while you read. Live Locally, Groove Globally!

Audio is posted for promotional purposes only, and SoundRoots-hosted mp3 files will vanish after a brief stay. CD reviews and mp3 postings are intended particularly to highlight under-appreciated, obscure, or out-of-print "world music." If you like the music, buy the CD so you can get full-quality sound & album art, and support the artist! Any mp3 will be promptly removed at the request of the artist/label.

SoundRoots encourages you to not just attend global culture events, but to hold and create your own.